Histological and morphometric studies on the dromedary camel epididymis in relation to reproductive activity

The reproductive efficiency of male dromedary camels under natural conditions is regarded to be low due to a relatively short breeding season and a long prepubertal period. This study was carried out to investigate the histological and morphometric changes in the Sudanese dromedary camel epididymis in relation to the breeding (rutting) and non-breeding (non-rutting) seasons at monthly intervals up to one year. Specimens were collected from different regions of the epididymis of 48 mature and healthy Sudanese male camels slaughtered at Tambul slaughter house in central Sudan. Paraffin sections of the caput, corpus and cauda regions of the epididymis were stained conventionally for general histology and morphometry. The epididymal stereociliated epithelium showed five types of cells: principal, basal, apical, halo and dark cells and the epithelium was surrounded by a thin layer of lamina propria and a circumtubular smooth muscle coat. No significant seasonal histological or morphometric changes were observed in the caput and corpus epididymides. However, a remarkable decrease in epididymal epithelial thickness and length of stereocilia with consequent increase in luminal diameter was observed in the cauda epididymidis during the rutting season; there was also an increase in the smooth muscle coat thickness. Thus, the results suggest that the epididymis of Sudanese dromedary camel is active throughout the year, but the activity remains low during winter and increases to its maximum during summer, especially during the rainy months.